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A business designed to meet the needs of deer hunters
Three years ago Patrick Adams and his wife, Ronda, opened A 1 Custom Cut Meats in the village of Washingtonville, giving hunters and others a place to drop off deer for meat packaging. Prior to opening at 325 W. Main Street, the North Lima couple had been performing the same services out of their garage for family and friends. (Photo by Larry Shields/Salem News)
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: November 14, 2013
As a child, he helped his father process deer meat after the two went hunting. Now North Lima resident Patrick Adams has used his childhood lessons to start his own business, opening A 1 Custom Cut Meats.
“My wife and I have always done deer processing for family and friends,” said Adams. “As time went on, our family and friends told more people and before you know it we had way more animals in our garage than we could keep up with.”
Three years ago, the couple decided to make things more formal, setting up at 325 W. Main St. in the small village of Washingtonville, which straddles Mahoning and Columbiana counties.
“We have a lot more space now,” said Adams. “We had a walk-in cooler in the garage, now we have about 1,600 square feet of space and our own smoker.”
They also have changed names going from A 1 Processing to A 1 Custom Cut Meats.
“Basically the way it works is that hunters drop off their deer fully clothed, so to speak, and we remove the skin and package the meat for consumption.”
While it may sound simple, Adams said there is an art to packaging any type of meat, including deer.
“You have to know where to get the different cuts from,” he said. “One part of the animal might be good for steak, another part for roasts and some of it might only be good for grinding into burgers.
“The average guy who buys a hunting license does not know all of this.”
Now in its third season, Adams said he expects to double, if not triple, the business this year. “We will definitely handle 400 animals but we might do as many as 600.”
He attributed part of the increase to the poor economy. “We’ve had a lot more hunters in this area in the last few years with times being tougher. Many of the farmers work with the hunters by allowing them onto their property.”
Most of the customers come from Mahoning, Columbiana and Trumbull counties. Adams said he might not be doing so well if he were in a more urban location.
“I don’t think something like this would fly in Akron,” he said. “The location is key. We are located in the commercial section of Washingtonville where there is a lot of 35 mph traffic so people can’t help but see our sign.”
The owners are working on creating a website and their Facebook page is still operating, although it has the old name.
Born in Youngstown and raised in North Lima, Adams said the deer processing business is not his first entrepreneurial venture.
“From the time my brother and I were kids we also had our own landscaping business, but my brother eventually left.
“With three kids, my wife and I have always had a second job on the side. After I closed the landscaping business I started Handyman Doors.”
The exterior door business is still operational, but during deer season (usually Sept. 28 – Feb. 1) the processing business takes center stage.
“The door business usually slows down during the fall when it gets cold because not too many people are looking for garage or entrance doors, so I can focus on the other company.”
Adams also has a full-time job at Sparkle Markets, where he is a maintenance technician.
While he and his wife, Ronda, are the only official employees of A 1 Custom Cut Meats, they do have a number of volunteers who lend a hand, including Adams’ father, Chuck, a meat supervisor at Sparkle Markets.
“I help out whenever I can,” said Chuck. “It’s a good business because a lot of hunters don’t want to do the work themselves and government regulations prohibit wild animals from being processed in supermarkets.
“I think it was a logical step for Pat. He used to help me and I think it came natural to him so I’m not surprised he would go into processing.”
“It’s pretty neat working together as a family to better our business,” said Ronda. “This time of year we are always very busy but we are still able to spend time together as a family.”
Eventually Adams would like to expand A 1 Custom Cut Meats, hiring employees and becoming a full-service facility that handles all types of meats.
“I would like to have a fresh deli and a poultry and meat counter down the road,” said Adams.